Douche



March l0, 1925- C. E. SIMS DOUCHE Filed March l5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l A A TTRNEYS WHA/5885s March l0, 1,925.-

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 xsi ATTORNEYS C. E. S|MS` DOUCHE Filed March 15, 1923 Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

CARL EUGENE SIMS, OF CISCO, TEXAS.

DOUCHE,

Application filed March 15, 1923. Serial No. 625,360.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, CARL E. SIMS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cisco, in the county of Eastland and State of Texas, havel invented certain new andy useful Improvements in Douches, ofrwhich 'the following is a speciiication.

rlhis invention relates to douches especially .adapted for use in the treatment of womens diseases although of courseadapted for universal use.

The object of the invention is to provide a douche of this character wherein the parts are so constructed and organized that in the retracted position thereof the douche may be readily inserted in the cavity to be treated without being liable to cause the user pain or discomfort and which when in sorted may be utilized to dilate the walls of the cavity whereby a thorough and complete douching action is insured since the douche is also provided with means formed and adapted to close the mouth or entrance to the cavity.

Another object is to provide a douche of this character which is so constructed and organized that spraying means such as an oil spray or a powder spray or ejector may be interchangeably utilized with the other elements of the organization sopas to provide for treatment with either oil or powder or for successive treatment with both substances. l Y

Other objects and advantages of the in,- vention reside in certain novel features of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this speciiication, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the oil spray being shown assembled with the other parts of the douche and parts being shown in elevation for the sake of illustration y Figure 2 is a view in elevation, showing the blades of the speculum in retracted position;

Figure 3 is a plan view, showing the blades of the speculum expanded;

Figure 4L- lis aV view in horizontal section, on line 4-4- of Figure 1, lparts being omitted Figure 5 is a fragmentary View in pen spective illustrating the means for releasably holding the barrel of the oil spray or powder spray in therbearing bushing;

Figure G is a vview in section of the sl'iown in Figure r5;

Figure l is a fragmentary detailview, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, showing the spring catch for locking the spreader fork in adjusted position;

Figure S is a detail view in vertical section of the powder spray or ejector;

Figure 9 is a plan View of the powder ejector shown in Figure 8; Y

Figure 10 is a view in section on line 10-1O of Figure 8; and

parts Figure 1l is a fragmentary view partly in sectionA and partly in elevation showing the spring catch of the plunger rod of the powder ejector.

Referring to the drawings,-the numeral 10, designates a t base plate preferably flanged at its margin, as at 11, to strengthen the same and reinforce the edge. A feed pipe 12 extends through an opening provided therefor in the base plate 10 and communicates with a circular distributing `pipe 13 which lies on thc base Lplate and which may be suitably secured thereto if desired. A plurality of douche. tubes 14, preferably six, extend longitudinally from the circular' pipe 13 and are arranged in circular series at spaced intervals around said pipe 13. As shown to advantage in Figure l, the douche tubes are offset in wardly, as at 14a adjacent the supply ring or pipe 13 and they extend parallel to each other. The inner ends of the tubes 14 are suitably connected to the distributingL pipe 13 and receive their supply of liquid from the pipe 13 and the outer ends of this tube 14 are closed. The peripheral faces of the tubes 14C are provided with double rows of perforations or discharge orifices 15 from which the' liquid issues in use. The douche tubes 14 are in cross section of the form shown in Figure 4 and thus on each side of each tube there is provided a longitudinally extending recess or seat 1G, the adjacent recesses being adapted to receive adjacent edges of the speculum blade lying between the tubes as will hereinafter more fully appear. i

rPhe speculum which is organized with the douche includes a sleeve like carrier 20 which is crimped around the pipe 13 and is secured by attaching lugs 21 and screws 22 llO to the base 10. Since the sleeve 20 is crimped around the pipe 13, the latter also serves to hold the sleeve against the base 10. A plurality of speculum blades 24, preferably six, are pivotally connected, as at 25, to the carrier 20 and are so arranged that one such blade 24 lies between each pair of adjacent douche tubes 14 and in the closed position of the speculum the longitudinal edges of the Iblades 24 are received in the seats 16 of the tube thus providing a smooth and continuous periphery. The outer ends of the speculum blades are formed with curved and arrow shaped heads 26 which interfit or nest in closed position to form a substantially complete and solid head which tapers toward its outer end, as shown to advantage in Figure 2. Means is provided for spreading or retracting the blades of the speculum and preferably includes a ring 27 and six links 28, there being one link for each speculum blade. Each link 28 is pivotally connected at one end, as at 29, to a speculum blade and is pivotally connected at its other end, as at 30, to the ring 27. rlhis ring 27 is slidably arranged within the douche tubes 14 and obviously when it is moved axially or longitudinally it will serve to spread or retract the blades of the speculnm accordingly as it is moved inwardly or outwardly. For manipulating the ring 27 there is provided a fork desig-v nated generally at 31 and which includes arms 32 actuated from a common operating knob 33. The arms 32 extend through openings provided therefor in the ring 27 and are adj ustably connected to the ring by means of nuts 34 threaded on the rod and engaging the opposite sides of the ring 27. In order to hold the spread fork in adjusted position one arm thereof is provided with a series of teeth 35 with which a detent 36 engages to hold the same in adjusted position. As shown to advantage in Figure 7 the detent 36 is carried on a spring arm 38 mounted in a block 39 fixed to the underside of the base 10 and having its free end 40 adapted to constitute a handle. The free end 40 may be grasped to spring the detent 36 out of engagement with the teeth 35 to release the spreader fork to permit of actuation of the same.

A hood 42 has threaded connection with a fiange 43 rigidly formed on the base 1() and this hood 42 tapers as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and serves to enclose the distributing pipe and ring carrier. The upper marginal edge of the hood is rolled over as at 42L so that the hood assists the 'base plate .in its action of preventing loss of the douche liquid. The space within the hood 42 is drained through a drain pipe 44 provided for this purpose and extending through the base 10 on the opposite side thereof from the feed pipe 12.

The present invention provides not only for the dilation of the walls of the cavity and for the douching action but also for the application of medicinal preparations either in the form of an oil or a powder. For carrying out this latter purpose there is provided a bearing bushing 45 fitted in an opening provided therefor in the base 10 and in the opening of the distributing pipe 13 and in the space between the lower end of the douche tubes the bearing` bushing being soldered, welded, or otherwise suitably secured to the douche tubes and to the base 10 if found desirable. The lower end of the bushing 45 is flanged, as at 46, and the flange is cut away as at 47, to accommodate the arms 32 of the spreader fork. This bearing portion 45 is adapted to receive the barrel of the oil spray, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, or the barrel of the powder spray or ejector shown in Figure 8.

As shown to advantage in Figure 1, the` oil spray includes a barrel of cylindrical form and when in use is fitted in the bushing 45 and extends up in the cylindrical space defined by the douche tubes 14. The

.upper outer end of the barrel 50 is provided with a perforated head or cap 51 having threaded connection with the body of the barrel and the lower end may be closed by a head 52 (although the head may be omit ted if desired) and is formed with an annular flange which coacts with a flange 46 provided at the lower end of the bearing 'bushing A plunger 55 is slidably fitted in the barrel 50 and is actuated by a plunger rod 56 which extends exteriorly of the barrel and terminates in a knob 57, the plunger operating through a bracket 58 fixed to the barrel at the lower end thereof. 1n order to provide for the measuring of a charge of oil, the rod 56 may be provided with one or more annular notches 59 cooperable with the spring detent 66 similar to the spring detent shown in Figure 7 for releasably holding' the plunger in desired position.

The powder spray or ejector shown in Figures 8 and 9 also includes a cylindrical barrel divided by partitions 66 into four quadrantal compartments 67, two of which are adapted to contain the charge of powder, the other two being idle in this form of the invention. 1n each of the active compartments 67 there is fitted a cup-shaped plunger 68 mounted on a plunger rod 69, the plunger rods 69 being connected at their lower ends to a cross head 70 and being operated by a common operating knob 71. A spring 72 is fitted on each rod 69 and tends to move the plunger to eject or spray the powder. The plunger rods 69 operate through a guide 69a. One end of each spring 72 abuts a plunger head and the other end abuts the lower cylinder or barrel head, designated at 73 andwhich'is formed with anannular flange 74 adapted to engage the vflange 46 of the bushing 45 when the powder spray is in use. Means is provided for holding the plunger 68 retracted and, as shown in Figure-1l, may comprise afspring; catclr75` similarto thosel used on umbrellas and provided on one or both plunger rods69.and cooperable with the cylinder vhead 73.- The annular flange 74 is provided with recesses 74n to accommodateithe rods 32 when the powder spray or ejector is employed with the speculum.

The end of the barrel or cylinder 65 which is disposedy at the outer end of the douche is of oval formation and is provided with a fixed top plate 77 Y for each of the inactive compartments and rotatable top plates 78l for the active compartments, the rotatable top plates 7 8 being adapted to be disposed to close the ends of their compartments or t0 overlie the top plate 77 and thus open the discharge ends of their compartments. Means is provided for operating the rotatable top plates 77a and preferably comprises an operating rod 78 extending longitudinally of the barrel through a sleeve 78 and provided below the head 73 with an operating arm 79. Between the operating arm and the cylinder head 73 the operating rod carries an operating cam or finger 8O engageable with the catches 75 for releasing the same, as shown in Figure l0.

eleasable fastening means is provided for holding the oil spray or the powder spray in the bearing bushing 45 and preferably comprises one or more resilient clips the clips being of U-shaped form in cross section and having legs 86 and 87 engageable with the flanges 46 and 53 or 74, respectively. It is to be understood of course that when t-he oil spray is employed the leg 87 engages the flange 53 whereas when the powder spray is employed the leg 87 engages the flange 74. This resilient clip 85 includes an arm 88 by means of which it is pivotally mounted, as at 89, to the flange 46. If desired, the leg 87 may be provided with a relatively small boss 90 adapted to engage a depression 91 formed in the iange 53 or 74 as the case may be. In Figure 6 the boss 90 is shown engaging the depression 91 in the fiange 53 and the arrangement is identical when the powder spray is employed.

In use with the parts disposed as in Figure 2 the douche is properly positioned and the blades of the speculum may then be expanded, as shown in Figure l by suitably manipulating the detent 35 and the operating knob 33, the detent releasing the spreader forks and these forks being then actuated to spread the blades 24. After the blades of the speculum have been extended the inclination of one row of jets being opposite indirection with respect to the other either as to horizontal or vertical or both. This distribution of the douching liquid together with the `action of the speculum provides for a thorough and complete douching action. At the same time this action is enhanced by virtue of the. action of the base l0 and hood 42 which prevent immediate loss or escape of the douching liquid. `Either simultaneously with, or subsequent to, or if desired in advance of the douching action the oil spray or powder spray may be employed. If the oil spray is employed the lbarrel 50 thereof is inserted through the bearing bushing 45 until the fiange 53 of the barrel 50 engages the iiange 46 of the bushing 45, and at such time the clips 85 are engaged with the fianges 53 and 46. The oil may then be discharged by releasing the detent 60 and advancing the plunger by manipulating the operating knob 57. The powder spray or ejector may be employed either subsequent to or before the oil spray or the douching action as desired, it being only necessary to remove the oil spray and insert the powder ejector, these parts being` interchangeably mounted in the bearing bushing 45. ff course it is to be understood that when the powder ejector is employed its barrel 65 is fitted in the bushing45 and it is also held in this bushing by the clips 85. In the preferred form of powder ejector the ejecting action is carried out by the spring 72 which is effective to forcibly eject t-he powder by means of the plungers 68 when the top has been opened by turning the arm 79 since such turning of the arm automatically releases the spring catches 75.

I claim:

l. In a device of the character described, a plurality of spaced and separate douche tubes having longitudinal recesses along each outer side edge, said recesses constituting seats and a speculum including a plurality of blades, the edges of which are received insaid recesses in the retracted position of the speculum.

2. In a device of the character described, a base, a circula-r series of douche tubes carried by the base, a bearing bushing arranged interiorly of said douche tubes at said base and spraying means including a barrel adapted to be fitted into the bearing bushing and means for releasably holding said barrel in position on said bearing bushing.

3. In a device or' the character described, a base, a circular distributing pipe mounted on the base, a circular series of douche tubes extending longitudinally of the base and connected with the distributing pipe, and nie-ins for interchangeably mounting an oil spray or powder ejector on said device including a bearing bushing arranged in vthe opening or the circular reed ring and connected to said ring and to said douche tubes and releasable Afastening means tor holding the oil spray or powder ejector to bearing bushing. i

il. In a device ot the character described, a base plate, a circular distributing pipe mounted thereon, douche tubes extending longitudinallyv of the distributing pipe and arranged in circular series therearound, a sleeve carrier crimped around the circular pipe and secured to the base plate, speculuui blades pivotally mounted ou said sleeve carrier and arranged in between the douche tubes, said douche tubes having longitudinal recesses receiving the edges of the speculum blades, means for spreading or retracting said speculum blades including a for;7 a ring connected to the fork and links connecting the ring and the blades and means for interchangeably mounting an oil spray or powder chamber within the circular series of douche tubes including a sleeve bushing secured to the circular pipe and to the douche tubes and arranged interiorly thereor, said bushing and said circular distributing pipe being provided with guide openings for the arnis of the spreader fork, and releasable Jfastening means carried by the bearing bushing and cooperablel with the oil spray or powder ejector for releasably holding the same in position.

CARL EUGENE SIMS. 

